Abstract

Cefixime, a BCS class II drug, is insoluble in water but
freely soluble in acetone and in alcohol. The aqueous solubility of
cefixime in water is poor and exhibits exceptionally slow and
intrinsic dissolution rate. In the present study, cefixime and β-
Cyclodextrin (β-CD) solid dispersions were prepared with a view to
study the effect and influence of β-CD on the solubility and
dissolution rate of this poorly aqueous soluble drug. Phase solubility
profile revealed that the solubility of cefixime was increased in the
presence of β-CD and was classified as AL-type. Effect of variable,
such as drug:carrier ratio, was studied. Physical characterization of
the solid dispersion was characterized by Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).
These studies revealed that a distinct loss of drug crystallinity in the
solid molecular dispersions is ostensibly accounting for enhancement
of dissolution rate in distilled water. The drug release from the
prepared solid dispersion exhibited a first order kinetics. Solid
dispersions of cefixime showed a 6.77 times fold increase in
dissolution rate over the pure drug.